Restart Grant Scheme opened

The Restart Grant Scheme supports businesses in reopening safely as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Grants are available from 1 April 2021.

Eligible businesses in the non-essential retail sector may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £6,000 from their local council.

Those businesses in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £18,000 from their local council.

Eligibility

Your business may be eligible if it is:

• Based in England.
• Rate-paying.
• In the non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care or gym sectors.
• Trading on 1 April 2021.

Businesses excluded from the fund

You cannot get funding if your business:

• Is in administration, insolvent or has been struck off the Companies House register.
• Has exceeded the permitted subsidy allowance.

You must notify your local council if your situation changes and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria.

The subsidy allowances

This scheme is covered by three subsidy allowances:

• Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance. You're allowed up to £335,000 (subject to exchange rates) over any period of three years.
• COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance. You’re allowed up to £1,600,000.
• COVID-19 Business Grant Special Allowance.
  • If you have reached your limits under the Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance and COVID-19 Business Grant Allowance, you may be able to access a further allowance of funding under these scheme rules of up to £9,000,000, provided certain conditions are met

Grants under these three allowances can be combined for a potential total allowance of up to £10,935,000 (subject to exchange rates).

Local councils will use their discretion to determine whether businesses meet the eligibility criteria for this grant scheme.

Eligible businesses will be paid:

• One-off grant of up to £6,000 in the non-essential retail sector.
• A one-off grant of up to £18,000 in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors.

Useful guides on this topic

COVID-19: Grant funding for business
What cash grants are available to support businesses during the Cornonavirus crisis? An index with links and summaries.

COVID-19: Government support tracker
This tracker covers measures announced by the government to support individuals and businesses, as we get through COVID-19.

Recovery Loan Scheme launched
HM Treasury has announced the opening for applications to the Recovery Loan Scheme. This is part of government-guaranteed finance throughout 2021, primarily in response to COVIV-19.

External links

Find your local council’s website to find out how to apply